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assistant-surgeon, who conducts it with great activity and propriety."^[1]

Troublesome convicts were arbitrarily moved from place to place so as to break up their plots. Writing to Colonel Paterson (Aug. 1805), King said:—

"I am sorry to be under the necessity of sending two such characters as H. B. Hayes and Maurice Margarot. . . . H. B. Hayes is a convict for life. At the expiration of Margarot's term of transportation it will be necessary to send him to this settlement, in case no Court of Civil Jurisdiction be previously established at Port Dalrymple, to answer the large debts he has contracted at this settlement, and for the forthcoming of his person this notification is to be considered a sufficient detainer. . . They are not to be victualled at the public expense, but as Margarot has no resources I have no objection to an exception respecting him if you should think it necessary."

For better security, Hayes and Margarot were conveyed from Norfolk Island in H.M.S. Buffalo, and it was while that vessel called at Hobart that Margarot attempted to impose upon Governor Collins. Colonel Paterson did not retain Margarot at Port Dalrymple, and he was sent to Newcastle. Hayes, the abductor, appears to have led a strange life in Sydney. He had considerable means, and acquired property. His intrigues with Margarot must have been well known, and Margarot's journals abound with notices of him. Hayes endeavoured to spin webs of conspiracy under cloak of meetings of Freemasons. In 1803, for such practices, he was ordered to the new settlement at Van Diemen's Land; but Lieut. Bowen's arrangements were not adapted for such a prisoner. In 1805 Hayes was proclaimed in Sydney as having "escaped from justice," was apprehended, and sent to Norfolk Island, whence he was carried in the Buffalo, with Margarot, to Van Diemen's Land.

The creation of three new settlements within the space of one year, and the necessity for maintaining a staff at each, sorely taxed the resources of the New South Wales Corps. In 1805 Paterson was in command at Port Dalrymple. A subaltern, Piper, was at Norfolk Island. Foveaux had gone to England. A civilian was in charge at Newcastle. Collins had a detachment of marines at Hobart Town. Major Johnston and the Governor agreed to repre-